In 2009...Pittsburgh has nothing to offer people aged 18-45 (purchase, universities)

[khyron]

"People obviously love electronica in Pittsburgh, I would like to know where they are at so they could come out, have a good time, enjoy some great tunes, and party!"

It sounds like this is actually the question you're looking to ask, and the rest is just frustration (which is valid but isn't as productive, when shared, as this question). Maybe what you should do is search for various online communities like this one where people from this area hang out...and just ask this question.

Maybe there's an audience and a venue just waiting for you that you haven't discovered yet?

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by IheartRobots

People obviously love electronica in Pittsburgh, I would like to know where they are at so they could come out, have a good time, enjoy some great tunes, and party!

Originally Posted by IheartRobots

and Pittsburgh seems to largely not care about it except for those bold individuals (like myself) who are into it and do it for a living.

[IheartRobots]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

Soooo...
how does others lack of interest in a particular genre of music translate to the title "In 2009...Pittsburgh has nothing to offer people aged 18-45 "???

Nothing to offer?

That's quite a stretch, don't ya think?

No...it's really not a stretch.

I guess for me, I've done all there is to do in this city since the age of 14, and now at 25, I feel like although there is alot to do, it's really nothing that appeals to me so to speak...and i have alot to add to the Pittsburgh nightlife scene as do many other people, but it doesn't get the type of response as other things do.

and the things to do in Pittsburgh nowhere amount to the things to do in a place like Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, all of which I've been to and trying to transplant a good amount of what's happening there to a place like Pittsburgh with less than satisfactory results.

Which eventually leads me to believe that Pittsburgh's social scene and nightlife is sadly...exhausted. There could be so much more going on, but since alot of people in Pittsburgh really don't have the type of awareness of scenes outside of Pittsburgh (mainly the now dead East End scene and the stagnant South Side thing), the type of things that people like myself are trying to bring to the table don't have the response I would like to have.

I feel like as much as I love Pittsburgh and try to do it right in the entertainment sector...it doesn't appreciate what I do and because of that I feel like...what's the point of even trying to do stuff like this in a city like Pittsburgh that's so decidedly behing the times and proud of it?

I don't even consider what most people think of as "fun" in this city as even viable or applicable to a person like myself...especially if you've been to bigger US cities and seen how things go down or to other countries and seen how things go down. Not everyone can live their lives thinking getting hammered on the South Side every thursday, friday, or saturday is the best thing to do in Pittsburgh. That's exhausted and nothing truly ever changes with it except the weekly special...I see it now at my age at a very vapid and wasteful lifestyle.

I'd like to see skate demos, skate art shows, electronic DJs, good reggae acts (national, international, and local), great punk shows that are actually held in venues that care about bringing in an actual audience, cutting edge art featuring contemporary art shows like that could be seen in galleries like SF or MOMA in NYC, watch good theater and plays (not the CLO fluff that's peddled as high art in Pittsburgh), hit up some high end and unique clothing boutiques and not stores that really don't have a wide selection of styles or another bigger stores styles that didn't sell, etc. Most people I talk to in Pittsburgh are just lost on this sort of thing because there really isn't alot of this type of thing represented to make a good basis on...which is sad...imagine if there was a bigger influence like that present in Pittsburgh and maybe people's spirits would be more inclined towards an appreciation of newer and more cutting edge culture instead of what's peddled as "hot" by someone who really has a dated or unrealistic perspective of what is going on outside of Pittsburgh.

Reading magazines from other cities and countries about art and music, seeing these things, hearing these things, and whatnot, and then comparing it to what's actually going on in Pittsburgh is flummoxing indeed, and makes me think that really Pittsburgh isn't up to par to what else is happening in the real world.


Really, compare the CP for Pittsburgh with event listings and "things to do" in places like NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Chicago, Detroit, LA, Las Vegas, San Franscisco, there really isn't a comparison to be made. Pittsburgh nightlife and things to do are just pants compared to that of other cities.

[IheartRobots]

Oh....I'm not a sports fan either. I love the Steelers, but i wish the excitement in Pittsburgh wasn't neccessarily based on sports.


I would like to see art like this in pittsburgh...
Art Crimes: Victor Malagon
No Comply 2008 - Skateboard Art Exhibition | FRESHNESS - Established in 2003 | Sneakers, Toys, Shops & Fashion
REAS.com / Blog » Blog Archive » Art and Electronic Media exhibition at bitforms nyc
http://www.bitforms.com/index.php

Or music and events like this....
Strictly Riddim: Dark Disco In The Park @ Central Park NYC
Da Return: New Gully Mad Decent Basement Phantom of the Opera Party Starts Friday!!!! | Mad Decent
Secousse in NYC | Mad Decent
Electric Zoo: New York's Electronic Music Festival


Or movies like this....
Last minute announcement, favela on blast nyc screening this week!!! | Mad Decent

and if there is something like that going on...it's attended by 15 people....


but since there is absolutely NONE of this...what else am I supposed to think about this city other than it just is behind the times and has nothing really hard-hitting to offer!!!!??? You can only go to a place like the warhol so much before it gets old...same with the Matress Factory, and even I've been kind of offput by the exhibits 9or should i say, lack thereof they have on their walls).

[IheartRobots]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

the key word is largely...which means, not everybody. Some, not all. I've played shows to smashing crowds and then done the same sets to crowds of 10 that could of cared less...especially when playing dance music, that just gives me the idea that no one cares about it but they just want to sit in some club and look cool. That prevailing attitude is very counterproductive.

Hopefully this thread can largely give people an idea of what NEEDS to be in Pittsburgh. Man (or woman) can't live on Iron City, football, Baseball, and Hockey alone.


Pittsburgh has a pretty chauvinistic and sexist attitude that i don't particularly like either.

[raubre]

I went through a "I Hate Pittsburgh" phase a few years ago, but as I grew older I learned to appreciate it more. I went out and found things to do. I am now 35 years old. Yes, the city is not really progressive with stuff, but like I said you have to go out there and make your own fun.

As far as saying that there is nothing to offer for 18-45 year olds, that age range is way to big. I wouldn't lump myself with the college age crowd.

Lastly, you are an electronic DJ? I'm defenitely not a fan of the genre, but from what I gather from other DJs across the country, some have gotten creative and had thier own DJ nights through promotion and word of mouth. I'm sure a lot of college age kids (in the gay community at least) would love to hear you. I would check around some of the local bars and get a following first. Being gay, you may actually get something in some of the gay bars (Pegasus or the Eagle maybe?) As far as the over 30 crowd, you may not get as many elctronica fans.

Good luck

[fleetiebelle]

Hopefully this thread can largely give people an idea of what NEEDS to be in Pittsburgh. Man (or woman) can't live on Iron City, football, Baseball, and Hockey alone.

You're preaching to the choir here. There are plenty of regular posters on this forum who have interests above and beyond drinking and sports.

I would check around some of the local bars and get a following first.

Ditto on this.

[IheartRobots]

Originally Posted by raubre

I went through a "I Hate Pittsburgh" phase a few years ago, but as I grew older I learned to appreciate it more. I went out and found things to do. I am now 35 years old. Yes, the city is not really progressive with stuff, but like I said you have to go out there and make your own fun.

As far as saying that there is nothing to offer for 18-45 year olds, that age range is way to big. I wouldn't lump myself with the college age crowd.

Lastly, you are an electronic DJ? I'm defenitely not a fan of the genre, but from what I gather from other DJs across the country, some have gotten creative and had thier own DJ nights through promotion and word of mouth. I'm sure a lot of college age kids (in the gay community at least) would love to hear you. I would check around some of the local bars and get a following first. Being gay, you may actually get something in some of the gay bars (Pegasus or the Eagle maybe?) As far as the over 30 crowd, you may not get as many elctronica fans.

Good luck

I'm straight but I got respect for the gay and lesbian community...and especially those out of them who have been showing me love as a DJ and know dance music.

As a DJ, honestly, the mecca for me in Pittsburgh was the Upstage. There you had a place where you had the meshing all all different crowds, black white, gay, straight, skaters, hip-hoppers, punkers, hipsters, b-boys, drag queens, goths...etc. The vibe in that club was unmatched and i feel there will never be a place like that that successfully brings these crowds together.

That's the spirit of house music and dance music...to bring people together to share in the love of music. i take cues from people like Frankie Knuckles, Erick Morrillo, as well as newer DJs.

My dream has always been to find that spot where this music is allowed to live and gain a following that brings people together...maybe it's too much for Pittsburgh at this stage and time, but i believe it could happen.

the music was underground and in gay clubs in the 70s/80s...it started going elsewhere in the late eighties, and then in the 90s and 2000s it has a wide international appeal and producers and DJs doing there thing worldwide. As much as I would play a place like pegasus for the love and money....I see music like Electronica going back underground in Pittsburgh in 2009 as backwards considering how big of a following there is for it.

Personally, I'd love to be headlining the Pittsburgh Arts Festival, or even organizing an event like that featuring DJs like the Detroit Electronic Music Festival (which brings out so many people every year from all over the world) and putting myself out there in the forefront as someone trying to bring a bigger presence in Pittsburgh for this thing...but then you got time and money that is spent elsewhere that isn't put towards it.

[Nebat]

Have you ever thought about opening your own club? Then you could be the master over what music you find important to play. Also comparing Pittsburgh to NYC or LA just isn't fair. Those cities are just so much bigger. Though Vegas is about the same size in metro population, it's a 24 hour party city, which obviously Pittsburgh is not. Having said that I'm a 29 year old dude that lives in a boring little town that serves an area of a little over 100,000 and to me Pittsburgh is a nice large but not too big city that I look forward to visiting at least once a year. I hope to be up there in October actually. Ditto on the disdain for top 40! Ugh! Only zombies like that! I prefer 90's rock and underground metal and industrial/goth music.

[IheartRobots]

Originally Posted by Nebat

Have you ever thought about opening your own club? Then you could be the master over what music you find important to play. Also comparing Pittsburgh to NYC or LA just isn't fair. Those cities are just so much bigger. Though Vegas is about the same size in metro population, it's a 24 hour party city, which obviously Pittsburgh is not. Having said that I'm a 29 year old dude that lives in a boring little town that serves an area of a little over 100,000 and to me Pittsburgh is a nice large but not too big city that I look forward to visiting at least once a year. I hope to be up there in October actually. Ditto on the disdain for top 40! Ugh! Only zombies like that! I prefer 90's rock and underground metal and industrial/goth music.

I've been throwing that idea around to people.